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Sunday, 11 December 2011

Death of Spider-Man

Death of Spider-Man- By Brian Michael Bendis

Death sells; this is something comic publishers learned
quite some time ago and by God they’ll milk it for as long as they still have
characters left to kill. The death of Ultimate Spider-Man has been particularly
controversial for a number of reasons, first and foremost because as a general
rule resurrection doesn’t happen in the Ultimate universe so Peter Parker is
more likely than not gone forever. Secondly Marvel had the gall to replace him
with someone who isn’t white, and every closeted racist knows that any new
character who isn’t a white male is just the writer trying to be PC.

But we aren’t here to talk about the new Ultimate
Spider-Man Miles Morales (whose first few issues are out now); we’re here to talk
about Peter Parker.

The death of Peter Parker is arguably more important to
the Ultimate universe than all of the deaths in the much maligned event
Ultimatum put together. Peter was the star of the first ever Ultimate comic way
back in the distant past of 1999, Ultimate Spider-Man #1, and his death is what
makes the Ultimate Comics relaunch so significant.

Fittingly the original USM creative team of writer Brian
Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley reunite to finish what they started over a
decade ago and Death of Spider-Man is as good a send off to the series as they
could have possibly managed. A problem many people have with ongoing comics is
that their very format stops them from having any real kind of resolution,
Batman will never get over the death of his parents, mutants will never be
accepted, Wonder Woman will never... uh... whatever it is Wonder Woman wants to
happen. Ultimate Peter Parker however gets that resolution, I won’t spoil how
but needless to say if Peter’s final moment in the world of the living doesn’t
make you tear up then there’s something legitimately wrong with you.

But I’m jumping the gun here, there’s a lot more to Death
of Spider-Man than the death of Spider-Man, as odd as that might sound. The
gist of the plot is simple enough; Peter is now being trained by the Ultimates
due to their concerns over whether he’s too young to be a responsible hero.
However before Peter’s training is complete the events of the story Ultimate
Avengers vs. New Ultimates kick off and half of the superheroes of the Ultimate
universe decide to have a big throw-down in the middle of New York because
where the hell else are superheroes supposed to fight. In the chaos Peter is
wounded, again I won’t say how but needless to say it’s not pretty. Unfortunately
for Peter at the same time a group of his greatest enemies, the Sinister Six,
escape from the SHIELD containment centre the Triskelion. Under the leadership
of Peter’s arch-nemesis Norman Osborn, aka the Green Goblin, the villains
decide to settle their score with Spider-Man once and for all.

Bendis has done an excellent job with these characters
since day one and he doesn’t let up here. There are some absolutely fantastic
character moments in this story from small, casual interactions early on that
perfectly represent why these characters have become so beloved to major
developments that show how much they’ve changed over time. My favourite character moment belongs to
Doctor Octopus and it showcases how well crafted and three dimensional the
character is under Bendis’ pen, continuing the character’s growth since
Ultimate Doom. Every character gets a chance to shine although the absence of
Kitty Pryde, formerly of the Ultimate X-Men and a major Ultimate Spider-Man
supporting character for quite some time, is very noticeable and I can’t help
but wish she had been included in this story somehow.

As well as the excellent character work this book also
includes some top-notch action, with Spider-Man and his housemates Iceman and
the Human Torch slugging it out with the Sinister Six. There’s plenty of
variety to the brawling and the book really gives the feeling of a final
battle. This isn’t just another fight between Spidey and his foes, this is the
final showdown and it’s an absolute delight to witness.

Mark Bagley is an artist who’s taken a lot of flak over
the years for his art, the most common criticism being that he draws everyone
with the same basic face, something I criticised John Romita Jr. for way back
in my first review, and that’s a perfectly valid criticism. However Bagley does
seem to have taken this to heart and his faces work has improved to the point
where it’s no longer a major issue. Same- faces aside Bagley does an excellent
job in this comic, the characters are expressive and the action is fluid and
I’ve always liked how Bagley draws more monstrous characters, in particular
Ultimate Green Goblin. It’s through Bagley’s pencil work more than Bendis’
writing that Osborn shines through as the force to be reckoned with he is and
the sheer physical presence of Bagley’s Goblin again emphasises how much shit
has well and truly hit the fan for Spidey.

When it comes down to it this is a well written and drawn
book with great character moments and action sequences and that makes it the
perfect ending to the story of Ultimate Peter Parker. The final few pages of
this comic are some of the most touching and poignant I’ve seen in a modern
superhero book and dammit Peter Parker goes out like a champ.

Ultimate Spider-Man has consistently been one of Marvel’s
best comics since it launched and the finale is no exception. Goodbye Peter,
you’ve earned your perfect score.